The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-12-21
DisObedience to Parental Authority.
BY REV. A. M'INTYRE.

the State OF -- there lived q family
of much respectability and influence.
The youngest child was son called by
the pet name OF Bennie. At the time
of which we write he was a youth
fourteen or fifteen years of age, heal
thy, active and intelligent, popular
with the boys Of the village and some
thing of leader among them. Ben
ME was member of the select school
of the village, forward in his books, a
good scholar with plans already laid
for usefulness. He had no idea of be-
ing a drone in the bustling hive of hu-
man activity. With all the freshness
and zest of his youthful vigor he had
determined to carve place for himself
in the busy world. The household of
which Bennie was member attended
regularly at the house of God and liv-
ed under the wholesome restraint OF
religious influence. His mother and
other members of the family were pro-
Tossing Christians and he himself a
member of the Sabbath-school. Ben
ME could not be called q bad boy, ra-
ther the reverse. He was thought to
be excellent in his way, yet he had
some dangerous traits in him that call
ed loudly for control. These were un-
manifest at times when he
would put ut defiance the parental au-
thority. Such were the surroundings
of his youth, and with prospects most
flattering, when the fatal catastrophe
overlook him which brought his
young life to an inglorious end.
On Saturday afternoon of beauti-
full autumn day his father, about to be
absent from home for short time, re-
quested the son to take charge OF the
office. Bennie in company with a
young companion had agreed on Il
hunting excursion that very afternoon.
Disregarding his fathers command he
took the gun and started. The father
seeing this, took the weapon from
him and put it in its place, repeating
the order that he must stay in charge
of the office during his absence. The
son waited until his father was out OF
sight OH his journey; then he took the
gun and with his companion started
for the woods. They passed along the
road eastward from the house up
gentle ascent short distance and halt
ed at the place where the railroad and
carriage road intersect. Here Bennie,
standing on the end of tie, let down
the butt Of the gun on the grouud and
placing the muZzle against his side
close to the small of his back he leah
ed upon it and began wriggling mo-
ton. Immediately the gun discharg-
ed and lodged the entire contents of
heavy charge of shot in the body close
to the spine. The shock was terrible.
His companion sounded the alarm
and Bennie was Immediately brought
home. The best surgical skill was Sc
cured, and everything possible was
done to save his life.
The appalling situation into which
one act of disobedience had plunged
him filled him with dread. The ten
derest care, the ceaseless watching, the
fearful and loving forgiveness of his
father, the prayers of loving Christian
friends, and especially of his godly
pastor, all were of no avail; the cruel
shot was the fatal message Of death,
and after nine days of intense suffer.
ing Bennie passed into the land OF
spirits. But the bodily suffering was
not to be compared with his agony of
mind. The thought that he was to be
cut off so prematurely and his young
life blighted by one persistent deed OF
would come upon him
with powerful force and then his men
tai anguish no tongue could tell. He
left message for his companions to be
warned by his example, and charged
his pastor at his funeral to warn all
young people in the most public man.
her, never to be guilty of like offense
lest the same or similar end overtake
them. The day of his funeral was an
occasion not soon to be forgotten for
the salutary lesson it taught, as amidst
sobs and weeping we laid his body in
the silent grave.
Let the youth who reads this little
story be also warned of the danger in
lust one act of disobedence. No sin so
fatal. Just one transgression was the
sin of Eden, the parent of all human
misery.
He who wilfully dsobeys a parent
will wilfully disobey God. He who
parental authority will soon
set at defiance the laws Of the land
and incur d penalty that is sure to fol-
low. AS the subject of this sketch, he
will be overtaken by some terrible dis
aster, or like Cain Gf not seized by the
rigors of the law he will be a fugitive
and a vagabond on the face Of the
earth; or like Judas, the betrayer of
the Lord, he may be led to lay violent
hands on his own life.
Surely to obey is better than sacri-
flee, and to hearken than the fat of
rams. ."-RcHgious Herald.
Quiet Work Tells.